Raphinha moved ear surgery forward to play for Brazil, report says, then scored four in a week
Barça's captain had a cyst removed from his ear on October 26, earlier than the club wanted, so he could stay available for Brazil. Two friendlies with managed minutes come next, and Barça host Villarreal on November 22 once the break ends.
An earlier blow had left a wound in Raphinha’s left ear that became inflamed.
The timing was his call, not the club’s. Barça expected the captain to wait until the November international break, according to Yahoo Sports. Surgery then would have ruled him out for Brazil. He chose to have it earlier.
He missed a few training sessions but no matches. The protective headband he has worn since his return is the visible sign of the operation.
Four goals in a week followed the operation
The decision has not cost Barça on the pitch. Barça beat Alavés 6-1 at Spotify Camp Nou on October 31, with Raphinha on target in the 8th and 41st minutes. That brought his league tally to 15 goals in 11 games. It matched a club record previously set by César Rodríguez and Leo Messi.
Against Aston Villa on November 3, both of his goals came in the second half. Barça won 3-0 at home and he was named MVP. The result left Barça on nine points from four Champions League games.
On November 8, Fermín López struck twice as Barça came from behind against Atlético. They now sit three points clear at the top of LaLiga.
Brazil trip tests a captain who is not at 100 percent
The worry is what the national team does to his body. In September, against Australia, he felt muscle discomfort in his right thigh while on Brazil duty. Physical problems picked up with the national team later cost him the Getafe and Galatasaray games. The Clásico was only his third game back.
Carlo Ancelotti named 26 players on October 29 for Brazil’s last two friendlies of the year. For Barça’s top scorer, the trip means a round journey of about 22,000 km. Barça and the Brazilian federation have agreed to carefully manage his minutes, FútbolFantasy reported. No specific number of minutes has been made public.
At a press conference, Raphinha described himself as feeling very good but not at 100 percent. He has discussed managing his workload with Ancelotti.
Barça’s first game after the break is at home to Villarreal on Sunday, November 22, in LaLiga Matchday 13. Kickoff at Spotify Camp Nou is at 14:00 CET.
